Tag Archives: Swallow

Cattle Egret – 9th April

This morning there were plenty of hirundines about and Willow, Sedge and Reed Warblers singing. In mid-morning seven Cattle Egrets flew north, along the river and then crossed the pylon path and returned whence they came except for one that landed in a riverside ash tree, where Black-headed Gulls proceeded to mob it. It then flew over the power lines and into a Deep Pit willow, where it stayed. PS.

Cattle Egrets – Neil Hodgkinson

Cattle Egret – Peter Smith

In the evening four House Martins were seen near the railway bridge. MC.

Bittern – 28th September

This morning two Bitterns were seen flying about the Slurry Lagoon. There was a slow passage of Swallows until late morning, when about fifty arrived to feed over the Slurry Lagoon. There were also three small groups of Common Snipe seen to fly around the site. PS.

In the late morning a Raven was seen on a pylon, a Hobby followed the Swallows and a Whinchat was found on the Ecopark. IEP.

Water Rail – 3rd September

This morning there were five Wigeon on the Slurry Lagoon. Up to 36 Shoveler were also there and about forty Swallows passed to the south in small family groups. A Water Rail dashed across the gap in front of the Causeway benches and two others were heard. There were still two Common Terns on the Deep Pit and large flocks of warblers, mostly Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, were about. PS.

Wheatear – 27th August

This morning a single and later a pair of Yellow Wagtails flew over the site towards the south. On the Causeway path a Wheatear was foraging for food and a flock of hirundines, including at least 20 House Martins, was feeding overhead. From time to time a group of Swallows or Sand Martins would join them before moving on south. Later fourteen Shoveler flew in and settled on the Slurry Lagoon. PS.

Wheatear. PS.

Merlin – 25th April

This morning a Red Kite was hunting over the reserve. Two Ravens were also seen. One Raven then flew to mob the kite and next a Merlin joined in. A Garden Warbler was heard and seen close to the railway bridge. A Green Hairstreak was seen as well as two Commas. PS.

In the morning there was a flock of Swallows in the Deep Pit and a Yellow Wagtail. RJP.